Installing a 7-Way Trailer Connector and Brake Controller on a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 Big Horn
Question:
I need your Help. I have a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 Big Horn Truck. It has the Factory Flat Plug with 4 post round post inside the flat plug made into the wiring harness it will not unplug from the wiring harness The bumper came with the Factory Round Hole already in it for the Round Plug but was not installed. This is what I would like to Install on my Truck. 1. A Automatic Leveling brake Controller. 2. A 4 Pole to 6 Pole and 4 Pole Trailer Wiring Adapter or 4 pole to 7-Way and 4 Pole Trailer Connector the plugs have the option of using the round plug or the flat plug so which ever one of the two that will fit the factory hole in my bumper. The new plug will need to plug into the factory 4 Pole Flat Plug because it does not unplug from the trucks wiring Harness and there is no quick connect in the harness to plug a new round plug into with a quick connector. 3. A Wiring kit to hook up the brake controller to the New Round plug in the bumper. 4. I will need at least a 2foot two foot4 Post Flat Plug Extension to connect between the 4 post Flat plug in the new Bumper plug into the Trailer Plug on the Trailer with a Flat 4 Post Plug on it. So if you could send me a list of the Part numbers I will need to make this work it would be of a great Help to me when i order my parts to get my truck up to Date. If there is nothing to make it work from the Factory Hole in Bumper then please send me a complete list of Items and Part Numbers to mount it to the bottom bumper to make it work. i would rather not use a under bumper mount if i do not have to i do not like to Drill holes in my Chrome Bumper so please help me out out if you can. Thank you and if you have any Questions please feel free to ask me anything.
asked by: George C
Expert Reply:
Luckily we have a kit that will provide you with everything that you will need to set up a 7-way connector at the back of your 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 Big Horn. I would recommend a 7-way connector over a 6-way because it will give you that additional pin for the reverse light circuit and you could always move down to a 6-way with an adapter.
I recommend the 7 and 4-way Installation Kit, # ETBC7. The round portion of the 7-way connector in this kit will fit in the factory hole in your bumper, however, you may need to drill small holes for the mounting screws because it may not snap in like the factory connector. If you did not want to drill the holes for the mounting screws, then you could use a No-Drill Mount Bracket, # C57202, and mount a bracket for the 7-way connector on your trailer hitch near your receiver.
The 4-flat connector that you currently have on your truck will simply plug into the 4-flat connector on ETBC7 and you will have 4 additional wires to run to complete the set up. The white wire will just need to be grounded to your vehicle frame. The purple wire is for the reverse light circuit and that can either be tied off if you do not want to use it or spliced into the reverse light circuit coming from the tail lights.
The final two wires are blue, for brake controller output, and black, for 12 V power. These wires will run up to the front of the truck using the duplex cable that is included. This kit also comes with all necessary butt connectors, ring terminals, mounting screws and circuit brakes needed for the installation.
I have attached an article for you to check out for the ETBC7 kit as well as an installation video that we did of this kit and a brake controller on a vehicle similar to yours. This video also shows how to install the No-Drill bracket if you find that it works better.
If you need an extension for your factory 4-way flat connector to reach the 7-way connector, then we offer the 48 inch 4-Pole Loop, # HM47115. This should provide plenty of extension to reach the new connector and comes with zip ties to tie off extra wire.
For an automatic leveling brake controller, I would recommend the Tekonsha Prodgy P2 Brake Controller, # 90885. This is one of our most popular brake controllers and is easy to set up and use. I have attached the installation instructions for you to check out. The video that I attached for the ETBC7 kit also details the installation of a brake controller that is very similar to this one. The installation process shown in the video for that brake controller is identical to this brake controller so you could use that as a reference as well.
I have also attached an article on installing a brake controller on a Dodge Ram truck for you to check out.
Products Referenced in This Question
Tekonsha Prodigy P2 Trailer Brake Controller - 1 to 4 Axles - Proportional
- Trailer Brake Controller
- Proportional Controller
- Electric
- Electric over Hydraulic
- Automatic Leveling
- Under-Dash Box
- Dash Mount
- Up to 4 Axles
- LED Display
- Up to 360 Degrees
- Tekonsha
more information >
Curt No-Drill Bracket for 6-Way or 7-Way Round Trailer Connector Mounting Bracket - Long
- Accessories and Parts
- Trailer Wiring
- Mounting Hardware
- Brackets
- 6 Round
- 7 Round
- CURT
more information >
Universal Installation Kit for Trailer Brake Controller - 7-Way RV and 4-Way Flat - 10 Gauge Wires
- Accessories and Parts
- Trailer Brake Controller
- Installation Kits
- etrailer
more information >
48" Long 4-Pole Loop with Cover
- Trailer Wiring
- Wiring Adapters
- Single-Function Adapter
- 0 - 5 Feet Long
- 4 Flat
- Plug and Lead
- 4 Flat
- Hopkins
more information >
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Adapter 4 Pole to 6 Pole and 4 Pole Trailer Wiring Adapter
- Trailer Wiring
- Wiring Adapters
- Multi-Function Adapter
- 4 Flat
- Plug and Lead
- 6 Round
- 4 Flat
- Hopkins
more information >
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